Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-06

and all, making, when finished, q figure
that when in the dark, would be apt shake
the nerves of the bravest and strongest
men.
With nothing but strong bandage
about his waist and hips, in which brace
of revolvers and knife were concealed,
ne was nearly ready for the exhibition
which he had planned. The next thing
which he took was several of the strong
lassoes always carried at the saddle bows
of the Rangers. These he knotted to-
gether in q continuous rope, and then
announced himself ready for his work.
eff it is not against your wishes,
SHOULD really like to know what you IN
tend to do, majoI?" asked Delorme, as
&c gazed upon the fearful, scarce human
looking figure before him.
"I'm going TO scale the mountain By q
] kind of pass which | remember having
seen when we were here before, or kind
of opening on this side by which can
get to It's top and look down into the val
ley where the red devils camp. One of
our scouts went up when Wehad our fight
here, and in that way we found out that
there were but four Indians in the gorge
then, and we let down men to take them
in the rear, and in that way tanned 'em
out after they had lsyed out nearly half. of
our company. After get to the top L m
going to lower myself away into the
camp, and if they don't run when they
see fiery skeleton coming edown from
above on 'em they're Drawer than white
men. Ii they run, as I'm almost sure
they will, I'll spirit your Stella out safe.
here into your arms, and, my men being
ready with the horses, daylight will find
US long ways from here"
"The plan is excellent, vet full of
danger to yourself. If il miscarries, you
are lost"
"Then revenge me-that is all 1 ask"
| "Cannot l go with your" asked Paul. -.
'No; one devil is enough at tinfe
Stay here and be ready to run or fighEsas
need directs, when the time comes
Freshen up the phosphoric marks again.
| Wet the stuff a little-I must blaze OUT
all that can"
The Rangers, having been cautioned
and Informed of the fearful and peril0us
feat which the major was about to under
take, made no remarks when he came out
ready for his work. He looked the deud,
indeed, all over. A mesquite fork, or
branch, had been affixed, like horns, to
his head, and this, too, was rubbed with
phosphorus until it looked like prongs of
fire.
Shaking both Paul and Delorme by the
hand, and uttering a low, but firm, fare
well, the nOble-hearted and daring ranger
commenced the ascent of the almost m
accessible mountain. Although the place
where he commenced to climb could not
be seen from the mouth of the gorge,
where he had guard stationed, it was
visible to all of his camp. And silently
the men looked upon that skeleton of
fire, IS it appeared slowly scrambling up
among the rocky cliffs-now half hidden
among the scraggy bushes, then coming
ont holder when it stood upon barren
spot.
Slowly, but steadily, on it moved, until
it seemed to have reached the top, where
it fingered for moment and then disap-
peaTed.
The planter and Paul now had their
horse, as well as that of toe Major,
brought in ready for use, and the Rangers
also prepared to fly or fight, as necessity
should determine. Thus they waited in o
suspense almost as terrible IS the adVen-
ture.
CHAPTER XII.
At the same hour when the Major was
preparing for his wild and dangerous ad-
venture, Lagona was pacing to and fro
restlessly in the front compartment of mis-
lodge, listening to the Mountaineering sobs
of poor Stella, whose anguish only in
creased when she thought how near her
fSther and lover were, yet how poWerless
to help her; for she knew what an i'm |
mense force the chief mad at his COM !
mand, also how impregnable was his |
position. These ne had, in his pride of !
power, shown to her when he was re-
ceived by his people, and hoped that, |
seeing this, she would the more readily |
yield to the fate which he really believed |
was her destiny by the will of the Great |
Spirit.
The C0manche camp WAS very still-he
had so ordered it, and the usual camp
fires burned dlmly-but now and then
the guard fires down the ravine bIazed up
brightly as the watChful sentinels threw
on fresh fuel. According to the usual
custom, every warriors horse was pick
eted by his lodge and his weapons were
ready to be seized at a moments notice
in case of sn alarm in the night. It is an
Indians pride and care never to be
caught mapping on any occasion or under
any circumstances.
Ada McAlpin, with g heartlessness
which only hate had frozen into her-for
naturally she was neither cruel nor
inclined-had cast herself down
to rest near the mourning child of
Delovme, and paid no attention to her
sorrows.
Lagona felt badly. His heart was
heavy. He loved the White Flower too !
well not 20 feel for her sufferlDgs. Yet
he believed he had only obeyed the will
Of the Great Spirit in carrying her off-he
5ven regarded the duty, as he deemed it,
more than his own feelings CT love.
off the White Flower dies, like bird
In its cage, it will be the fault of LagC-
la!' he muttered. "And if he lets he's go
back to her people, then the Great Spirit
will be angry, b, cause the dream wnic
ne gave is not fulfilled. The path before
Lagona is dark-he does not know which S
way to travel"
The soliloquy OF the young chief was
suddenly interrupted by yell so wild, so
fearful, so unearthly, that it did not seem |
% have come from mortal lips. Even he, !
indian as he was, started and trembled. I
Again it came, wild and demon-like, upon
he still night air, and cries of alarm re- s
sounded through the village.
LsgOna sprang to the opening of his b
odge, where his noble white charger b
stood, quivering with fear st his picket t
lear the camp fire. And as he glanced b
oward the mountain top in front of him
lie saw a sight that was striking terror Y
nto a thousand warrior hearts at the o
ame Instant sight which froze tie il
Hood in his own veins, for he had never L
cen the like before. S
A figure, seemed to be formed of fire, b
vas dancing from the crest of cliff,
where had never known human foot to
read, and uttering yells far more wild
nd terrible than ever came from a red